International growth boosts Guild membership to 300

Estonia and Singapore became the latest countries to be represented within The Gin Guild as 23 new members were welcomed at the gin industry body’s Autumn Installation.

The new members taking their oath at The Mansion House, London, saw the Guild’s membership rise to more than 300, currently representing over 20 different countries across the globe.

Representatives of the founding international brands and UK distilleries were joined by new members including Sven Ivanov from Estonia’s Moe Distillery, Jason Williams from Atlas gin bar in Singapore, which holds more than 1,200 bottles of distilled gin, and Keshav Prakash, who founded The Vault as a platform for small producers to connect with connoisseurs and trade in India.

The new members were installed before the Annual Banquet hosted by the Guild’s parent company, The Worshipful Company of Distillers.

“Gin is continuing to enjoy a strong renaissance in the UK and in its established international markets and drinkers in new markets are discovering its appeal.”

He said UK sales of gin were now worth more than £1.2 billion annually, with exports anticipated to hit £600 million in 2019. While the USA is the largest single importer of UK gin, the EU is the biggest destination, with the European market seeing growth of 16% last year.

Mr Pilkington stressed: “The Guild represents the international gin industry as a whole and aims to promote gin across the globe. Members range from start-ups and entrepreneurs to long-established companies with international brands. Our membership is uniquely placed to promote and defend the interests and integrity of the Gin category.”

Gin Guild members include senior representatives of the major distillers, as well as those from medium-sized and craft distillers, journalists, sales and marketing and brand advisors, promoters, bar owners and cocktail experts, spirits packaging consultants and professional advisers.

Dr Anne Brock, Bombay Sapphire’s Master Distiller was installed as parent company Bacardi’s Founder Warden. Other newly-installed members in the rank of Wardens were Alex Griffiths, Griffiths Brothers Distillery; Sven Ivanov, Moe Distillery and Guy Martin, City of London Distillery.

Installed as Founder and/or Warden-Sponsored Rectifiers, all sponsored by Atom Brands, were authors and presenters Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley, and Keshav Prakash,.

Rectifiers installed in their own right were: Ounal Bailey, from Wisehead, who produce London Essence Mixers; Joanna Dennis of Fishers Gin; Steven Sturgeon of The East India Company and Jason Williams, Proof & Co.

The Guild’s next installation will take place on 8 May 2019 at the Guildhall in the City of London, followed by The Guild’s annual Ginposium seminar on 7 June 2019.

About The Gin Guild

The Gin Guild is a spirit industry member-funded, not-for-profit body, supported by the four major gin distilling companies, Bacardi, Diageo, William Grant and Sons and Chivas Brothers, but representing the gin industry as a whole. It aims to promote the gin category across the globe, enhancing its image and widening its appeal to worldwide consumers. It is the natural home of gin innovation, including new start-ups and craft distillers and craft distilled gin.

The Gin Guild brings together gin distillers and industry leaders involved in the production, promotion, distribution and consumption of gin and promotes and encourages commitment to excellence in gin distillation and industry custodianship of the spirit category. Gin Guild members, reflecting gin production and consumption, are international and include those from the UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Japan, India, Italy, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Norway, The Czech Republic, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and the USA.

The Guild is an industry association. It does not seek to promote any particular branded product or products but aims to bring the widest range of products and their producers and those associated in the wider industry, together in order to provide a valued forum for all those involved in gin production, sales, marketing and distribution.

The historical role of the Worshipful Company of Distillers – one of London’s old historical livery bodies – originally granted the right to supervise distilling in London in 1638 by Royal Charter, was to hold key responsibilities for the control and regulation of early gin distillers. That provides a unique historical link to the gin industry placing London at the historic heart of the modern gin category and industry, though the industry is now worldwide. The Worshipful Company of Distillers through the work of The Gin Guild, its subsidiary, provides and facilitates a wider opportunity for those involved in the industry to participate in a modern convivial industry forum, reflecting and including many of the traditions of the City.

Guild Membership

Membership is open to a range of gin industry players. The classes of membership are as follows:

Founder Wardens: The Four Founder companies appoint the four Founder Wardens.

Warden Rectifiers: This group is limited to producer/distillers and brand owners (excluding supermarket own brands and retail off trade, and/or ineligible gin styles, and smaller low volume craft distillers). This is held as a corporate representative position (with only one such position in each company).

The installations of the Grand Rectifier, Wardens and other members of the Guild are by way of solemn ceremonies, reflecting the traditions of the trade guilds of the City of London. Guild members receive a certificate of admission to the Guild, a silver Guild “juniper sprig” insignia and a commemorative Guild plaque.

Applications for membership of the Guild should be addressed to the Guild Director General, Nicholas Cook. For more information, please call 020 3397 2737 or email nicholas.cook@theginguild.com